[Off-Comm Threads]

[averagemedium]

(Just a catch-all post for any threads that need to be moved to off-comm logs, or started off-comm to begin with. May contain content over PG13, potential squick, etc.)

Comments

[necrowmantic]

[Even through the sleepiness, the first thing that strikes Henry is the odd sense of familiarity. Didn't something like this happen recently? Well, no matter-

Which does get his attention a little bit. Only just. A mild, but entirely satisfactory sense of relief follows.

So the first response is a slightly-muffled laugh, reluctantly blinking an eye open to focus hazily on Ryan.]

Huuuh... sure seems that way!

[averagemedium]

[Ryan's peering at him worriedly for a moment longer before he answers that with relieved laughter of his own, leaning in to kiss him hard. Everything's normal, nothing's going to be weird--

...and then he starts remembering some of the things he'd said to people and breaks away, horrified.]

Oh my god, Henry, how am I going to make this up to people.

[necrowmantic]

[The break of the kiss draws a short, disapproving noise; he'd almost thought that maybe Ryan had made it through okay, that he wouldn't immediately have to go back to worrying.

Henry pushes himself up, stifling a yawn.]

What's there to make up? Unless there's some bodies you were keeping to yourself, I don't think you killed a single person.

[averagemedium]

No, I didn't, I just-- I think I really bothered Stiles. And maybe Davesprite and Jade, it's probably a good thing I didn't talk to Ellie--

[He doesn't bother to push himself up as well, just shifting to rest his head in Henry's lap with a brief sound of dismay.]

And I haven't been to work in a few days either, what if they needed me there?

[necrowmantic]

Yeah, you sure did threaten Stiles a whole bunch. It was sweet.

[Henry's content enough with this, slowly starting to stroke his hair.]

And Jade and everyone else knows what happened. It wasn't your fault, I doubt anyone minds too much.

[averagemedium]

I'm pretty sure he minded, I mean, I was threatening him--

[He pauses for a moment there, glancing up to Henry.]

...I don't think I'm as sorry about it as I should be, though.

[necrowmantic]

[He laughs quietly at that, grinning down at him.]

No reason to tell him that~ But sheesh, now I really don't know how you manage holding all those worries in at once. But if I did end up with an ulcer, you are definitely welcome to see it.

[averagemedium]

I really don't think I want to anymore.

[His nose wrinkles at the thought- yep, definitely back to normal. He's just lazily draping an arm around Henry's waist as best he can, the other rubbing idly at his leg; he's not too eager to move right now, honestly. Getting up means having to go contact everyone and start apologizing, and he would much rather stay comfortable before he has to do that.]

...you're feeling better about things now though, right? Nothing's still bothering you?

[necrowmantic]

Yep! Better than ever, even.

[Maybe enough remembrance of what it had all been like remained, enough to make the contrast with his normal state seem a bit more soothing than usual.

And he's happy to encourage Ryan staying right where he was, fingers gently exploring his face.]

How was it having a break from all those concerns? I told you I'm just a happy guy~

[averagemedium]

...kinda nice, actually.

[That's quieter, almost murmured-- to be fair, it's at least partly because he's making an idle and not too focused effort to nip lightly at one of Henry's fingers.]

Think I sort of get what you meant about that, now.

[necrowmantic]

Oh? I am pretty straightforward.

[He lets his hand still for a moment, to help that nip out, before lightly skimming a finger over his lips.]

Not you, though! You're even more complicated than I expected.

[averagemedium]

[The tip of that finger's going to get bitten at as well- there's no real force behind it, he's toying with it more than anything, and as he lets go there's a quick kiss pressed to it as well.]

Guess I'm a little better at covering that up than I thought- but I'm sorry you had to put up with it. Seemed like it really bothered you.

[necrowmantic]

I guess it's more that I'm not used to it? It was really weird, I had no idea where to start with anything.

[But he smiles a bit more at the bite and kiss, his other hand lightly cupping the side of his face.]

Sorry you got my bloody habits along with my cheerfulness! Was I right in not letting you maim yourself?

[averagemedium]

...yeah, you were. I'd definitely have been upset about that.

[Ryan lets his eyes slide shut, content just to enjoy the warmth and the attention-- if it weren't for everything on his mind he might be able to just go back to sleep and forget about it for a while.]

Thanks for keeping an eye on me, though. Pretty sure it would have gone poorly if I had gone and controlled anyone, or stabbed them, or... anything, really.

[necrowmantic]

[Before, Henry would've just assumed that Ryan was entirely fine; after all, the curse was over, everything was back to normal. Nothing was wrong.

Now, he's not entirely sure, so he focuses instead on touching his face, brushing his hair back.]

Hey, it's no problem. I was worried it might offend you at the time, I think, but it all worked out. Too bad you missed out on practicing your control though. You could've at least tried it on me, I wouldn't have minded that much.

[averagemedium]

I know you wouldn't, but-- still glad I didn't, all the same. It'd bother me now, you know?

[The continued touch is more than welcome, his head tilting into it with a content little murmur. After a few more moments he lifts a hand to take one of Henry's, squeezing it tight and holding on to it.]

...and you didn't offend me. The only thing I was worried about was you being worried.

[necrowmantic]

That sounds about right.

[He latches back onto that hand, linking their fingers together.]

I was really worried about you, though! Is it- uh, I hope it's not always like that.

[averagemedium]

[Someone's fidgety, or just fixating a bit- regardless of the reason, he continues toying with the hand he's grabbed, pulling it over to press kisses against the skin between murmured sentences.]

Not all the time, no. I mean- I do worry about you, just kind of as a general thing? But not like that every day. Last time I think it got that bad was when you left for a bit.

[necrowmantic]

[He lets him have that hand, enjoying the attention in itself, whatever the reason for it. His free hand continues idly stroking his hair.]

Eh, was it that bad? But I wasn't in any danger, you know, I've lived outside a lot.

[averagemedium]

I knew you'd be fine.

[There's a pause there, frown hidden behind Henry's hand- but the furrow in his brow makes it obvious enough.]

...I just wasn't sure you were coming back, until you did.

[necrowmantic]

Where else would I go? None of us get a choice about staying or leaving the city.

[He doesn't quite frown back, but his hand slows.]

I just felt like being outside!

[averagemedium]

I know, just- at the time I kind of worried I'd upset you enough to stay away for a while, considering-- everything.

[He shrugs slightly, shifting a little restlessly.]

You know I don't always worry about reasonable stuff, though.

[necrowmantic]

I wasn't upset, though. So there was totally nothing to consider.

[He pulls that linked hand up to his own lips, biting at one of Ryan's knuckles.]

But yeah, I kiiiiinda noticed there's a lot of unreasonable thoughts going on in that head. I'm surprised I'm not more exhausted!

[averagemedium]

I'm surprised too, honestly-- guess it's a good thing none of it stuck though, right?

[He loosens his grip on his hand just enough to brush his thumb across Henry's cheek, smiling slightly. The worry, he's glad Henry's free of-- but he sort of suspects that if anything did stick, he's not going to know.]

...don't think I'm going to tell Jade it wore off, yet. One more day off's not going to hurt, I want a normal one.

[necrowmantic]

I'm not gonna argue with you sticking around here.

[He grins easily back at him. This was a much better topic than him going wandering for absolutely no reason.]

You can always tell them that I forgot to untie you once we were back to ourselves.